The virtual machine delivery network

Distributing virtual machine images over the internet via traditional methods wastes
network resources. A proposed solution to this problem is the Virtual Machine Delivery
Network (VMDN). A VMDN optimizes the distribution of virtual machine images using
concepts from content delivery networks combined with knowledge that exists about the
inner structure of virtual machines and their disk images. In this research this virtual
machine image’s disk structure has been analyzed which resulted in three different type
of data structures. For each of these data structures a different strategy has been
developed for the VMDN prototype implementation. Three different scenarios were
created to get a set of possible performance factors. The strategies’ performance was
measured using these performance factors and the applicability of each strategy per
scenario has been evaluated. The findings of the study are that a VMDN can be much
more efficient bandwidth efficient than traditional distribution methods, but that the most
effective strategy differs greatly per given context.